Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Ms Ellen Richard Madisa visited Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI), recently (May 20, 2021).
This was her first tour of the Institute since appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry on April 26, 2021. The aim of the tour was to appreciate the operations, purpose and progress on projects and other activities that support the National Economic Development Agenda.
Ms Madisa received a detailed presentation led by BGI Chief Executive Officer, Mr T.H. Ngwisanyi. The highlights of this presentation were as follows;
- BGI Mandate
- Role of a modern National Geoscience Organisation
- BGI areas of Impact such as making Botswana a preferred destination for mineral exploration
- BGI’s Flagship Projects such as Compilation of Industrial Minerals
- National Development Plan 11 Projects namely Identification and Assessment of Mafic, Ultramafic and Granitic Complexes and National Integrated Geoscience Information System (NIGIS)
The PS also took a tour of the operations which included the Laboratories, National Geologic Information Centre (NGIC) Coreshed and the Seismology Data Centre, all located at BGI Head Office in Lobatse.
In her response, Ms Madisa thanked BGI Management for the detailed Brief of the Institute work under the Mandate. She however urged BGI to ensure that Government Botswana economic and social development initiatives are fulfilled. Projects intended to benefit communities must be prioritised, especially where the Institute is required to conduct technical assessments to assist exploitation of such minerals such as precious stones in the Bobirwa area and shales in Mogobane as examples.
She encouraged BGI to leverage collaborations and partnership as this will give the Institute access to skills and sharing of equipment such as at Laboratories. BGI should also ensure that they contribute to skills development by accepting students from universities for attachments for hands-on experiences.
Ms Madisa was accompanied by her deputy permanent secretaries, Messrs Tsimako (DPS Mines and Minerals) and Mothebe (DPS Green Technology and Energy).
